Overview
This private Dendera and Abydos day trip from Luxor takes you to two temples in one long day: the Temple of Seti I at Abydos and the Temple of Hathor at Dendera. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an Egyptologist guide, and the price includes entrance tickets to both temples and lunch. The day runs from a 7:00 AM hotel pickup to about 6:00 PM, and the price starts from $75 per person, depending on the number of travelers.
Why visit Dendera and Abydos
Both temples lie north of Luxor, away from the Karnak and West Bank sites that most first visits cover, so this day works well as a second or third excursion once you have seen Luxor itself. Abydos was a pilgrimage center for the cult of Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and its temple is carved and painted in fine detail. Dendera is the temple of Hathor, and its great hall of Hathor-headed columns has painted ceilings that restorers have cleaned in recent years. If you have not yet seen the main Luxor sites, start with our East and West Banks of Luxor tour or the Valley of the Kings tour.
The Temple of Seti I at Abydos
Seti I built the temple in the 19th Dynasty, and his son Ramesses II finished it. Inside are seven chapels, dedicated to the king and to the gods Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amun, Re-Horakhty and Ptah. In the gallery of the Abydos King List you see a carved sequence of royal names, with Seti I and Ramesses II making offerings to the kings before them; Egyptologists use the list to reconstruct the order of Egypt’s rulers. Behind the temple stands the Osireion, a structure linked to the worship of Osiris. Read the full history in our guide to Abydos Temple.
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera
The present temple of Hathor was begun in 54 BC under Ptolemy XII, and its great hall was built under the Roman emperor Tiberius. The columns carry the face of the goddess Hathor, and the ceilings are painted with astronomical scenes. Below the temple are crypts, and a staircase leads up to the roof; which of these areas are open can vary, so your Egyptologist confirms on the day. The famous zodiac relief seen in the temple is a copy, because the original was removed in the early 19th century and is now in the Louvre in Paris. For more detail, see our guides to Dendera Temple and the Dendera zodiac.
Practical notes
The day is long: pickup is at 7:00 AM from your Luxor hotel and you are back at about 6:00 PM, with much of the time spent driving between the temples. Wear comfortable shoes, because both sites involve walking on stone floors and Dendera has a staircase to the roof. Lunch at a local restaurant is included. If you plan a Nile cruise from Luxor, ask us about adding this day before you board or after you disembark; see our 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
Book the Dendera and Abydos day trip
Send us your travel dates, your hotel in Luxor and the number of travelers, and we reply within 24 hours with availability and your pickup time. Prices start from $75 per person.
Itinerary
At 7:00 AM your driver and Egyptologist meet you at your Luxor hotel, and a private air-conditioned vehicle takes you north through the Nile Valley. The road runs through farmland and villages, and your Egyptologist uses the drive to introduce the two temples: who built them, which gods they honored and what to look for inside. Abydos is the farther of the two sites, so you visit it first, and Dendera follows on the way back to Luxor.
Abydos was a center of the cult of Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and the Temple of Seti I was begun by the king and finished by his son Ramesses II. Your Egyptologist takes you through the seven chapels, dedicated to the king and to Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amun, Re-Horakhty and Ptah, and explains the painted reliefs on the walls. In the gallery of the Abydos King List you see the names of earlier pharaohs carved in a row, with Seti I and Ramesses II making offerings to them. Behind the temple stands the Osireion.
Between the two temples you stop for lunch at a selected local restaurant, and the meal is included in the price. The break gives you time to rest from the drive and to ask your Egyptologist anything about Abydos before you continue to Dendera. Please tell us about any dietary requirements when you send your inquiry, so that the lunch stop suits everyone in your group before the day begins, and let the Egyptologist know if you would like extra time at either temple.
Dendera is the temple of the goddess Hathor. The present temple was begun in 54 BC under Ptolemy XII, and the great hall, with its Hathor-headed columns, was built under the Roman emperor Tiberius. Your Egyptologist explains the painted ceilings of the hall, which have been cleaned during recent restoration work, and the reliefs on the temple walls. The temple also has crypts and a staircase to the roof; which of these areas are open can vary, so your Egyptologist confirms on the day. The zodiac relief in the temple is a copy, because the original is in the Louvre.
After Dendera your vehicle takes you back to Luxor, where you arrive at your hotel at about 6:00 PM. The drive gives you time to look back over the day with your Egyptologist and to plan what you want to see next in Luxor. If you would like to continue with the main Luxor sites, ask us about the East and West Banks tour or the Valley of the Kings tour. We reply to every inquiry within 24 hours.
Included & Excluded
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Egyptologist guide for the full day
- Entrance tickets to Abydos and Dendera temples
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Luxor
- Bottled water on board
Excluded
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Personal expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dendera and Abydos day trip worth it?
It suits travelers who have time for a long day and want to see temples beyond Luxor. Abydos is known for its seven chapels and the Abydos King List, and Dendera for its Hathor-headed columns and painted ceilings. The day takes about 11 hours, and a good part of it is spent driving.
How long is the day and when does it start?
Pickup is at 7:00 AM from your Luxor hotel, and you are back at about 6:00 PM. You visit Abydos first, stop for lunch, and then visit Dendera on the way back to Luxor.
What is included in the price?
A private air-conditioned vehicle with driver, an Egyptologist guide for the full day, entrance tickets to the temples of Abydos and Dendera, lunch at a local restaurant, hotel pickup and drop-off in Luxor, and bottled water. Gratuities and personal expenses are not included. The price starts from $75 per person and depends on the number of travelers.
Is the Dendera zodiac in the temple the original?
No. The zodiac relief seen in the temple is a copy. The original was removed in the early 19th century and is now in the Louvre in Paris.
Is there much walking, and what should I wear?
Both temples involve walking on stone floors, and Dendera has a staircase to the roof, so comfortable shoes are recommended. If anyone in your group has mobility needs, tell us when you send your inquiry.
Can I add this day to a Nile cruise from Luxor?
Ask us about adding the day before you board or after you disembark in Luxor. Send your cruise dates with your inquiry and we reply within 24 hours.
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